Let your heart be pleasing to God
This week’s sermon, Looking at the Condition of Our Hearts, talked about the story of Abel and Cain. Pastor Vickylextar explained the reason why God approved or rejected their offerings and how He values our hearts. Indeed, Yahweh accepted Abel’s offering because of his sincere heart and rejected Cain’s offering because of what he entertained in his heart (e.g., selfishness, jealousy, bitterness). The latter was exemplified clearly in Cain’s response to his being reproval when he “became very angry, and his countenance fell” and when he even “rose up against Abel his brother and killed him” (Genesis 4:8, TLV). Yahweh knew what was in Cain’s heart before he committed the crimes, and He warned Cain: “But if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the doorway. Its desire is for you, but you must master it” (Genesis 4:7, TLV).
What stands out for me is that we also have the responsibility not to let selfish emotions get the better of us. As we are often reminded at Crosspointe, if we love God with all our hearts, there will be no room in it for evil. Cain had likely been entertaining selfishness and jealousy toward his brother for a long time for him to act so horribly, and he obviously did not listen to God’s caution and guidance. Let us learn from this.
It’s amazing! God cares more about the heart’s intent and thoughts than the material offering and external show. Truly God does not judge according to outward appearance, but rather He looks into the heart (1 Samuel 16:7; Jeremiah 17:10). It is imperative to keep, guard, and lead our hearts if we truly value our relationship with Him and want to please Him, especially because of how much love He has lavished on us through His Son Yeshua (1 John 4:9-10). To have my heart ruled by Him and His goodness is what I want to focus on, and this, by sharing my every moment with God because, honestly, we can’t do it on our own.
May the meditation of our hearts be pleasing to Him, this week, and always (Psalm 19:14).
– Zach, November 9, 2020
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